1A-10 Preview: Zephyrhills Christian looks for big encore after dream season
BY BRANT PARSONS —Zephyrhills Christian had quite a year a season ago, reaching the state final in the state duals and finishing in the top 10 in the IBT tournament.
Kabra Wrestling Rankings are updated every week all season long for Kabra+ members.
Last season: Zephyrhills Christian outscored runner-up Robinson by 43 points.
Last year’s district tournament results
Last year’s region tournament results
Wrestlers to watch: Talon Maple (Zephyrhills Christian), Uy'Kown Wimberly (Zephyrhills Christian), Jeremiah Chavis (Zephyrhills Christian), Jonathan Sawicky (Foundation Christian), Aiden Hutchins (Zephyrhills Christian), Elijah Austin (Zephyrhills Christian), Javier Lopez (Zephyrhills Christian)
The favorite: Zephyrhills Christian. They lost two state placers to transfer but could bring everybody else back and added a state placer through transfer too.
Team to watch: Robinson. They lost seven region qualifiers to graduation including both state qualifiers, but they could have six back who wrestled in the region tournament.
District duals: TBD
District IBT: TBD
Kabra Says: If Zephyrhills Christian returns the wrestlers from a year ago, they’ll be the team to be in both duals and IBT and could see some deep postseason runs again.
Zephyrhills Christian Warriors (#7 IBT | #4 Dual)
Coach: Tim Maple (3rd at school/13th overall)
Assistant coaches: Niko Deaugustino, Malik Jones
Recent district results: 2023:1; 2022:2; 2021:4-1A6; 2020:3-1A6; 2019:3; 2018:1; 2017:1; 2016:3;
Last state champion: Malik Jones, 2020 (285)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Landen Holley, Fr., 57-8, 4th, RC, DC (Transfer to Wesley Chapel); Reid Yakes, Fr., 62-7, 3rd, RC, DC (Transfer to Tampa Jesuit)
Notable returning wrestlers: #1-144 Talon Maple, Jr., 62-9, 3rd, R3, DC; #4-190 Jeremiah Chavis, 8th, 58-16, SQ, R2, DC; #6-150 Aiden Hutchins, Jr., 49-20, 8th, R3, DC; #6-215 Elijah Austin, Sr., 60-11, SQ, RC, DC; #9-175 Javier Lopez, Jr., 54-12, SQ, RC, DC; #12-126 Nevin Hayes, Fr., 39-18, RQ-BR, DC; #14-132 Kyle Gallo, Fr., 57-14, RQ-BR, D2; #15-113 Izak Rodriguez, Fr., 26-15, RQ-BR, D2; Joel Thompson, Jr., 27-21, RQ, D3.
New wrestler: #5-120 Uy'Kown Wimberly, So., 42-11, 6th, R2, D2 (Transfer from Chamberlain); #15-106 Alzider Ortiz, So., 41-13, RQ, D2 (Transfer from Strawberry Crest); #9-165 Curtis Tyler, Jr., 34-13, RQ, DC (Transfer from Springstead).
What they are saying: "Last year we gained a lot of experience, we are now more mature and ready to make a solid run at both state duals and individual."
Outlook: Along with a couple district title last year, Zephyrhills Christian had the biggest breakthrough at the state duals by reaching the final. There are some new faces in the room and a couple have left, but this team might be better than last year’s with another season of experience behind it.
Robinson Knights
Coach: Thomas Montero (23rd season/32nd overall)
Assistant coaches: John Moore, Christian Padilla, Michael Bentley, Marina Werkmeister, Michael Grimmett
22-23 dual record: 12-3
Recent district results: 2023:2; 2022:3; 2021:2-2A7; 2020:3-2A7; 2019:2-2A8; 2018:2-2A8; 2017:1-2A8; 2016:3-2A8; 2015:3-2A8; 2014:2-2A8; 2013:1-1A9; 2012:2-1A9
Last state champion: Luis Peguero, 2013 (170)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Kai Hill, 23-24, RQ, D3; Kassim Johnson, 29-14, RQ-BR, D2; Jackson Poynor, 37-20, SQ, R4, DC; Jonathan Delgado, 35-19, RQ, D3; Jeremiah Fernandez, 27-11, RQ-BR, D2; Aydan Holloway, 28-19, RQ-BR, D2; Jeremiah Ellis, 38-14, SQ, R3, D2.
Notable returning wrestlers: #13-126 Dominic Hernandez, Sr., 35-18, RQ-BR, D3; #15-144 Daniel Ellis, Jr., 26-20, RQ, D2; #15-150 Allan Lewis, Sr., 33-21, RQ, D2; #16-190 Arron McCarty, So., 25-18, RQ, D3; #17-138 Garrett Roberts, Sr., 27-15, RQ, D2; Ayden Wheldon, Sr.; Justin Tudor, Jr.; Quentin Erikson, Jr.; Somaud Jones, Sr.
What they’re saying: “We have a great number of experienced wrestlers.”
Outlook: The Knights will not only have a full line-up, they’ll have a bunch of kids in the room with experience.
The Florida High School Wrestling District Previews
Click on link to see preview
Class 3A: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16
Class 2A: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16
Class 1A: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16
Class G-1A: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16
Jefferson Dragons
Coach: Adam Altuzarra (10th season)
Recent district results: 2023:3; 2022:6-2A9; 2021:7-2A7; 2020:8-2A7; 2019:11-2A8; 2018:6-2A8; 2017:4-2A8; 2016:6-2A8; 2015:8-2A8; 2014:8-2A8; 2013:3; 2012:3
Last state champion: Gary Bartlett, 1977 (112)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Daniel Caines, 17-10, RQ, D4; Iurii Kalinin, 29-9, SQ, R4, DC; Justice Rodriguez, 6-9, RQ, D3; Carmine Morton, Sr., 30-6, 7th, R4, D2 (Transfer to Gaither).
Notable returning wrestlers: #18-190 Tyler Simms, Jr., 21-11, RQ, D2; Luis Enamorado, So., 27-7, RQ, DC; Marco Gandy, Sr., 24-13, RQ, D3; Charles Hill, Sr., 22-14, RQ, D3; Angel Gonzalez, Jr., 14-15, RQ, D2.
What they are saying: “We have a lot of experienced wrestlers passing their knowledge on to a large group of newcomers to the team and sport. I think we'll find massive success this year with all of the waterfalling knowledge we have in this program.”
Outlook: Last year’s group produced the highest district finish for the Dragons since 2013 and despite losing some of the top wrestlers from that team, Jefferson still figures to be competing at the top of the district.
Berkeley Prep Buccaneers
Coach: Jeremy Carter (1st at school/6th as head coach/15th overall)
Assistant coaches: Michel Santos, Chad Caldwell, Daisy Santos, Mike Carter, Mac Slauson
Recent district results: 2023:4; 2022:1; 2021:2-1A9; 2020:2-1A9; 2019:2; 2018:5; 2017:2; 2016:1; 2015:3; 2014:3; 2013:3-1A9; 2012:4-1A9
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Diogo Santos, SQ, R3, DC; Maximillian Fonseca, RQ, D2; Anthony Neal, RQ, D3; Andrew Crouch, 5th, RC, DC; Aidan Larkin, RQ-BR, DC.
Notable returning wrestlers: Vinesh Mesaros, Sr., RQ, D4; Vishnu Ashwath, So., RQ, D4; Truman Slauson, Fr.
New wrestler: Isfan Khodiev, Jr. (Transfer from Plant)
What they are saying: “There are better and more experienced wrestlers in the state, but we are going to catch up quickly. I wouldn’t underestimate any of my kids.”
Outlook: Carter takes over at Berkeley Prep where some top wrestlers will need to be replaced this season.
Chamberlain Storm
Coach: Xavier Bolden
Recent district results: 2023:5; 2022:8; 2021:9-2A7; 2020:9-2A7; 2019:6-2A8; 2018:8-2A8; 2017:8-2A8; 2016:9-2A8; 2015:4-2A8; 2014:5-2A8; 2013:6-3A7; 2012:9-3A7
Last state champion: Patrick Spano, 2007 (152)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Uy'Kown Wimberly, So., 42-11, 6th, R2, D2 (Transfer to Zephyrhills Christian)
Potential notable returning wrestlers: Axel Figueroa, So., RQ, D4; Jose Carrasquillo, So., RQ, D3; Damyan Torres, So., RQ, D4.
Bell Creek Panthers
Coach: Willie Murphy (4th season/9th overall)
Assistant coaches: Melissa DiCenzo, Cameron Patisaul, Justin Addison, Marvin Johnson, and Rafal Penso
22-23 dual record: 1-15
Recent district results: 2023:6; 2022:5.
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Stephane Norceide, Jr., 12-20, RQ, D4 (Transfer to Riverview)
Notable returning wrestlers: Santiago Velasco, Jr., 24-15, RQ, D3; Juvandy Robinson, So., 7-14, RQ, D4; Mark Villanueva, Jr.
What they are saying: "Realistically, we're still a young program in our fourth year and we're still looking for that first state qualifier and I honestly think I have two guys that can do it."
On keeping a young team engaged: "Well, I'm big on the process and I'm big on goals. So I have all my wrestlers, every day, tell me what their purpose is for that day. And we talk about purpose and goals, that no matter what happens in a tournament, whether you go to a dual tournament and go 0-2, you've achieved some goal on there, whether it's just the goal of making weight or whether it's the goal of taking the first shot. So for the younger guys who have these goals built in there and I heavily celebrate those kids achieving those goals."
On how they look to grow: "They know that it's not just about winning and losing - it's about building something. I tell them all the time, I point out examples of guys who started wrestling in high school and who became state champions. Some of our guys have no business sometimes being on the mat with some of these high school kids, but they're out there, they're putting in work, they're doing it."
Outlook: The Panthers are young, but extremely coachable and there is a lot of potential in this room. A state qualifier is the goal and Velasco or Villanueva could be the history-making wrestler in this group.
Foundation Christian Academy Panthers
Coach: John Sawicky
Recent district results: 2023:8; 2022:7; 2021:8-1A9; 2020:7-1A9
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None
Potential notable returning wrestlers: #6-106 Jonathan Sawicky, So., 32-14, SQ, R4, D3; Jacob Young, Fr., RQ, D3.
Tampa Prep Terrapins
Coach: James Gift
Recent district results: 2023:10; 2022:6; 2021:7-1A9; 2020:1-1A9; 2019:1; 2018:2; 2017:7; 2016:2; 2015:2; 2014:2; 2013:5-1A9; 2012:3-1A9
Last state champion: Ethan Mojena, 2020 (120)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None
Potential notable returning wrestlers: #20-106 Calder Pickering, So., 17-15, RQ-BR, D4; Cooper Pickering, Sr., 17-19, RQ, D4; Collin Schentrup, So., 3-16, RQ, D4.